Debate topic
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- boobs
Democracy is buying votes, pure and simple. Republicans buy votes with tax cuts, and increased defense spending. Democrats buy votes with increased social and environmental spending. All the talk about other underlying motivations is simply philosophical window dressing.
Discuss.
- mrdobolina0
social and environmental spending actually helps citizens, continued tax cuts are unsustainable when looking at current spending.
- capsize0
what democracy are we talking about?
- boobs0
The very nature of Democracy. The examples cited pertain to the current US scene, but the idea that Democracy is buying votes is what I'd like discussed.
- ismith0
I concur.
- harlequino0
So how are you defining "buying a vote?" Isn't making a claim to do such and such why someone might vote for you, at least in part?
- dskz0
boobsy?
- mrdobolina0
it's a loaded statement. Why would anyone get out of their house to vote unless the candidate was going to do something they agreed with.
- Right, this thread is more of a value statement about motivation and public will.Mimio
- Mimio0
Democracy relies on transparency and the promotion of open societies. Every half step from the ideal and you introduce ignorance and disenfranchisement and this kind of cynicism. Instead we have a passive system with disengaged single issue voters.
- mrdobolina0
It's a completely cynical way of looking at it, not that I disagree but Saddam Hussein used to have "show-elections" where he would get 99% of the vote. So in that respect, he bought votes with not torturing and murdering 99% of the iraqi citizens I guess.
- dskz0
Your selling yourself, pure and simple.
Hopefully what you sell is righteous and will help the country.
Hopefully people will see what your selling as righteous and will vote for you.
Or they could just because vote for you because you look like their grandpa.
- jfletcher0
It seems to me democracy doesn't exist in the US. We all say we should vote, but the electoral college is counted, not us. Look no further than Gore winning the popular vote for proof. We're more a Republic.
boobs, to your point that democracy is buying votes...sure... any vote based system basically buys votes by debate and persuasive argument. What would like to see instead?
- hedge0
I knew dobs was a Saddam sympathizer.
- mrdobolina0
trolly mctroll